Reading Public is celebrating Juneteenth this week with a series of special activities and programs.
Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19 and commemorates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of the Civil War. This holiday marks the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in the United States.
The Reading Public Museum aims to deepen public understanding of this important event through a variety of immersive and enlightening experiences, the museum said in a statement.
“Juneteenth is a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, and we are honored to commemorate it with a series of programs that educate, entertain and inspire,” Wendy Koller, museum director of education, said in a statement. “We invite the community to join us in celebrating this day of freedom and reflection.”
The events begin June 19 with a family day and special admission to the museum and a lecture by Wynton Butler, NAACP Reading Branch historian, who will speak about the history and significance of the observation.
As part of the observation, the museum will also host special screenings of the documentary “The Right to Read” on June 20 and 21.
The film tells the stories of an NAACP activist, a teacher and two American families who fight to provide a younger generation with the most fundamental indicator of lifelong success: the ability to read.
If you go
What: Juneteenth commemoration
Where: Read Public Museum
When: June 19, 20 and 21
Schedule of Events: June 19, noon to 3 p.m., visitors to the museum grounds will have the opportunity to meet with community partners to learn about the resources available to families and individuals in Berks County. 6 p.m. lecture by Wynton Butler.
June 20 and 21, 4 p.m., special screenings of the documentary “The Right to Read” at the Neag Planetarium in partnership with the NAACP.
Admission to the Juneteenth Lecture, documentary screenings and family day activities at Reading Public Museum are free. Reservations are required for the lecture and film screenings.
Admission to the museum on June 19 is free with a donation of a non-perishable food item that will be donated to support families moving to our community from Haiti.
More information: readingpublicmuseum.org.
